WRDA 2nd Hearing: A Focus on Project Sponsors
On February 8, the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, held a second hearing on a 2022 Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) bill. This hearing was a chance for six project sponsors to impress upon legislators why their projects deserved to be on Congress’ final funding list. These were not random projects. Rather, each sponsor spoke on behalf of one of the projects presented in the January 2022 “Chief’s Reports…
US Eyes 100-strong Mideast Sea Drone Fleet
The United States Navy and security partners will patrol Middle East waters with 100 unmanned vessels next year to improve deterrence against attacks, like those presented by Iran, the U.S. Fifth Fleet commander said on Monday.The region is vital for global trade, especially oil supplies that flow out of the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz.There have been high-seas confrontations between U.S. and Iranian forces with attacks on oil tankers in Gulf waters in 2019.
World's Largest Cruise Ship Makes US Debut
Port Everglades once again welcomes the largest cruise ship in the world. Royal Caribbean International's Wonder of the Seas docked at her homeport, Port Everglades, this weekend for her inaugural season beginning March 4. This is the fourth Oasis-Class ship to make its U.S. debut at Port Everglades.Built by French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the new 236,857 GT cruise ship takes the title of world's largest from its 228,081 GT sister ship Symphony of the Seas, in service since 2018.
Bordelon Marine Names Pitre Director of Operations
U.S. offshore vessel owner Bordelon Marine announced it has promoted Trenton Pitre to director of operations.A 10+ year industry veteran, Pitre has been with Bordelon Marine for the past seven years within the Lockport, La.-based company's operations department, most recently as senior operations manager. Pitre has previous industry experience with Edison Chouest Offshore making repairs and conducting maintenance on OSVs…
Greek Manager of Oaktree-backed Tanker Says Probing Possible Iran Oil Transfer
Greece-based Empire Navigation is investigating whether Iranian oil was transferred onto one of the vessels it manages, the company said in a statement, after a U.S.
Argentina Grains Inspectors Start Strike; 'No Impact' at Ports
Argentina's grains inspectors began a 24-hour strike on Monday demanding bonus payments, but port activity and shipments of farm products were not affected in the South American country, the top global exporter of processed soybeans.Juan Carlos Peralta, press secretary of the URGARA union, said there was strong compliance with the strike action and that on Monday afternoon the union would hold another…
Gibbs & Cox Wins Navy Deal Worth Up to $319 Million
Naval architecture and marine engineering firm Gibbs & Cox Inc. has won a contract to support surface combatant ship design and engineering efforts for the U.S. Navy’s Future Surface Combatant Force, the Pentagon announced.Under the deal, Gibbs & Cox will primarily support of the DDG(X) program, as well as other emerging ship concepts, and it will also conduct feasibility studies as part of supporting the broader Navy fleet.The $29…
US Awards More Than $45 Million in Passenger Ferry Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded $45.3 million in grant funding to help buy, repair, and modernize ferry boats and terminals.The fiscal year 2021 grants have been awarded to projects in 11 states and territories, providing funds for capital projects that support existing passenger ferry service, establish new ferry service, and upgrade ferry boats, terminals and related facilities and equipment.
Carnival Cruise Line to Ease Mask Mandate for Passengers
Carnival Cruise Line plans to make masks optional for its guests from March 1 after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eased its warnings for cruise ships, the company said in a statement late on Friday.The company said masks would be recommended but not required."There may, however, be certain venues and events where masks will be required," Carnival said in the statement.Carnival…
Containership Drops 26 Boxes in Storm Eunice
The Dutch coastguard said on Saturday it was trying to locate 26 empty shipping containers lost on the North Sea during Storm Eunice on Friday.Panama-registered container ship Marcos V lost the 40-foot (12-meter) containers around the Dutch Wadden islands while en route to Germany in heavy winds, the coastguard said on its website.So far, none of the containers have been found.The coastguard is using helicopters and a emergency towing vessel in the search, while ships in the area have also been
Vicente Boluda Fos to Receive France's Knight of the Legion of Honor Medal
Boluda Corporación Marítima CEO Vicente Boluda Fos will receive the Knight of the Legion of Honour medal in Paris on June 16, in recognition of outstanding services rendered to France by the Valencian businessman. The distinction will be awarded by former president of France Nicolas Sarkozy.Boluda France was created in 2007 after the purchase of the French company Les Abeilles, a company whose activity…
Hong Kong Using Cruise Terminal as COVID Facility
Hong Kong is in "all-out combat" to contain a surge in coronavirus cases, the city's number two official said on Sunday, with the ramping up of community isolation and treatment units helped by mainland Chinese construction teams.Scenes of people lying outside public hospitals in the rain and chilly weather have shocked many in the global financial hub, leading to an apology from authorities. Officials…
New Tanker Ship Design Reportedly Hits IMO 2050 Emission Targets Using Fossil Fuels
RINA issues an Approval in Principle (AiP) of Swedish designer FKAB Marine Design’s hydrogen powered MR Tanker, the first AiP of a design using currently viable technology and fuels that achieves IMO 2050 targets. Conceived by the class society and designed by FKAB, the propulsion is based on combining the ship’s fuel (LNG) with steam to produce hydrogen and CO2. The MR LNG/hydrogen-fuelled vessel…
Ship Scrap Prices Continues Upward Momentum
Another promising week passed in the sub-continent markets this week, with resurgent Pakistani and Bangladeshi (in particular) markets putting down some show stopping numbers on available units.GMS reports haveing seen several Capes sold for HKC recycling in the mid USD 600s/LDT in recent weeks, especially as chartering rates in this sector have taken a bit of a dip. Tankers keep being introduced into…
Second HKZ Offshore Wind Substation Sets Sail from Dubai
The second High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) offshore transformer station topside, delivered by Petrofac and Drydocks World Dubai for the Dutch-German transmission grid operator TenneT, has set sail from the fabrication facility in the UAE, Petrofac said Monday.The 700 MW Beta topside weighs 3,950-tonne. It is being shipped to the Dutch North Sea aboard Boskalis' Mighty Servant 3 heavy lift and transportation vessel.
Fire Dies Down on Ship Carrying Porsches, Audis and Bentleys, with Little Left to Burn
A fire which swept through a cargo ship carrying thousands of luxury cars and adrift off the coast of Portugal's Azores islands has lost its intensity, probably because there is little left to burn, a port official said.The Felicity Ace, carrying around 4,000 vehicles including Porsches, Audis and Bentleys, some electric with lithium-ion batteries, caught fire in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday.The 22 crew members on board were evacuated the same day.
Greece Reports First Fatality after Blaze on Ferry, 10 Still Missing
Firefighters battling for a third day a blaze on a ferry sailing from Greece to Italy recovered on Sunday the body of a passenger listed as missing, Greek authorities said.It is the first reported fatality after rescuers managed to take at least 281 out of 292 passengers and crew to safety from a blaze which broke out on the Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia early on Friday.The ferry had been on its…
MOL, Toyo Eye Offshore Wind Vessel Collab
Japan-based shipping in giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and its compatriot Toyo Construction have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on evaluating potential collaboration in the offshore wind space.The companies aim to open up new business opportunities for work vessels that will be required for offshore wind power projects, based on the demand for vessels related to offshore wind power business in…
